Traveling can be one of life’s most enriching experiences, offering opportunities to explore new cultures, landscapes, and personal growth. However, the joy of travel can quickly be overshadowed by the stress of packing and organizing your belongings.
As seasoned travel professionals with over 100 trips under our belts, Nancy and I have perfected the art of packing to ensure every journey is smooth, organized, and enjoyable. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share our expert strategies for selecting the right luggage, maximizing space, and staying effortlessly organized throughout your travels.
Plus, we’ll reveal what we pack in our 28″, 24″, and 21″ bags, our meticulously curated purses, and our trusty backpacks. Let’s dive into the art of packing and discover how you can travel like a pro!
Why Proper Packing Matters
Proper packing is more than just fitting your belongings into a suitcase; it’s about creating a system that ensures you have everything you need while minimizing stress and maximizing convenience. As travel specialists, Nancy and I have encountered countless packing challenges and perfected techniques that streamline the process. Our goal is to share these insights with you, empowering you to embark on your adventures with confidence and ease.
The Benefits of Expert Packing
- Efficiency: Save time and energy by having a well-organized packing system.
- Space Maximization: Fit more items into your luggage without overpacking.
- Ease of Access: Quickly find what you need without rummaging through your bags.
- Stress Reduction: Travel with peace of mind knowing everything is in its place.
- Flexibility: Adapt to various travel scenarios with a versatile packing approach.
Selecting the Right Luggage: Quality Meets Affordability
Choosing the right luggage is the foundation of effective packing. Nancy and I prefer purchasing our luggage from Amazon, where we find high-quality sets that never exceed $200. Our preferred sets typically include a 28″, 24″, and 21″ suitcase, along with a matching backpack. Here’s why this combination works for us:
Luggage Set like Nancy on Amazon or Luggage Set like Sandra on Amazon
Why We Choose Amazon
- Variety: Amazon offers a vast selection of luggage sets to suit different needs and preferences.
- Affordability: High-quality luggage is available at competitive prices, allowing us to stay within our budget.
- Convenience: Easy online shopping with customer reviews to guide our decisions.
- Reliability: Trusted brands and customer service ensure we get durable, long-lasting luggage.
Our Luggage Set: 28″, 24″, and 21″
- 28″ Suitcase: Reserved for longer trips, typically during winter months when packing bulkier clothing. This size provides ample space without being overly cumbersome.
- 24″ Suitcase: Ideal for most trips, offering a balanced size while providing enough room for essentials.
- 21″ Suitcase: Perfect for short trips or as a carry-on while fitting in most overhead compartments, ensuring we have what we need without checking in baggage.
- Matching Backpack: Although we purchase a backpack to match our luggage set, we never use it for days when we site see. Instead, it serves as a personal item during airport transitions, keeping our small purse and essentials within easy reach.
Our Unique Packing Techniques: Maximizing Space and Staying Organized
Packing is both an art and a science. Nancy and I have developed unique methods to maximize space and maintain organization, ensuring we never fumble for items or face unnecessary delays.
The Bagail Compression Packing Cubes Advantage
One of our favorite tools for efficient packing is the Get Bagail Compression Packing Cubes on Amazon. These cubes help us:
- Compress Clothing: Save space by reducing the volume of packed items.
- Organize Belongings: Keep different categories of items separate and easy to find.
- Prevent Wrinkles: Maintain the neatness of our clothing by minimizing movement.
Step-by-Step Packing Process
- Plan Your Outfits: Select versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched for different occasions.
- Use Packing Cubes: Assign each cube to a specific category (e.g., tops, bottoms, underwear) to keep everything organized.
- Roll, Don’t Fold: Rolling clothes saves space and reduces wrinkles.
- Utilize Every Space: Fill shoes with socks or small items to maximize space.
- Layer Strategically: Place heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top for balance and ease of access.
Our Organizational System
- 28″ and 24″ Bags: Primarily contain clothing & shoes. Each suitcase has designated packing cubes for different types of clothing and accessories, ensuring everything is neatly arranged.
- 21″ Bag: Used for CPAP Machine, toiletries, essentials and items that need to be easily accessible during the flight, such as a change of clothes, and any necessities.
- Purses and Backpack: Our crossbody purses are meticulously organized with zippers and compartments for passports, cabin or room keys, receipts, battery chargers, and lipstick. The backpack serves as a personal item during airport transitions, holding items like a water bottle, charging brick, medicines, travel documents, snacks, laptops and other essentials you may need to get to quickly during airport and airplane.
What We Pack: Inside Our 28″, 24″, and 21″ Bags, Purses, and Backpack
Understanding what to pack and where to place it is crucial for staying organized and prepared. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our packing strategy:
1- 28″ Suitcase
Our 28″ suitcase is reserved for longer trips, typically during winter months when packing bulkier clothing. Here’s what we typically pack inside:
- Clothing:
- Tops and Shirts
- Bottoms (pants, shorts)
- Dresses (if applicable)
- Sweaters and jackets
- Underwear and socks
- Sleepwear
- Shoes:
- Dress shoes or sandals, depending on the trip
- We typically wear out comfortable walking shoes when we travel because they are bulkier to pack
- Accessories:
- Scarves, belts, and jewelry
- Hats and gloves for colder destination
2- 24″ Suitcase
Our 24″ suitcase is the workhorse for most trips, offering a balance between size and capacity. It’s everything you pack in the 28″ but less. Here’s what we typically pack inside:
- Clothing:
- Tops and Shirts
- Bottoms (pants, shorts)
- Dresses (if applicable)
- Sweaters and jackets
- Underwear and socks
- Sleepwear
- Shoes:
- Dress shoes or sandals, depending on the trip
- We typically wear out comfortable walking shoes when we travel because they are bulkier to pack
- Accessories:
- Scarves, belts, and jewelry
- Hats and gloves for colder destination
3- 21″ Suitcase
Our 21″ suitcase is perfect for short trips or as a carry-on, ensuring we have everything we need without the hassle of checked baggage. You want to have an additional set or 2 of clothes in the event your travel plans get delayed in the airport. Additionally, you want anything you need to get your hands on quickly. Here’s what we pack:
- Essentials:
- A couple of outfits for immediate use in the event travel plans get delayed in airports
- A lightweight jacket or cardigan
- Travel documents (tickets, itinerary, copies of passport, insurance, etc)
- Toiletries:
- Travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Skincare products
- Makeup essentials
- Jewelry if applicable
- Hair Brushes & Hair accessories
4- Backpack (used as personal item on the plane)
Our matching backpack serves as a personal item during airport transitions, ensuring we have everything we need within arm’s reach.
- Your small Purse (to board plane)
- Your TSA approved bag for liquids – instead of using a ziplock bag, these bag offer more storage.
- Travel Documents – Insurance – Copies of Passport
- Laptop & pen and paper
- Medicine & Supplements
- Electronics:
- Chargers for devices
- Universal Adapters and converters if traveling internationally
- Umbrella – outside compartment
- Water Bottle – outside compartment
5- Purses: Sandra’s and Nancy’s Choices –
Our crossbody purses are designed for convenience and security, allowing us to keep important items within easy reach. Here’s what we include:
Ladies Cross Body Sling Purse – Nancy’s Favorite – Shop Nancy’s Ladies Cross Body Sling Purse on Amazon
Ladies Cross Body Purse – Sandra’s Choice – Shop Sandra’s Ladies Cross Body Purse on Amazon
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- Passport and Travel Documents: Easily accessible in a designated interior compartment.
- Keys: Cabin or room keys in a secure front zipper #1.
- Receipts: Organized in front zipper #2.
- Battery Chargers: Compact chargers for phones and other devices in back zipper #3..
- Lipstick: Quick access for touch-ups throughout the day inside zipper
- Hand Sanitizer: small bottle inside purse
- Umbrella: – Small umbrella inside purse only for rainy days.
Men’s Sling Chest Bag
For the men in our group, a Men’s Sling Chest Bag is essential for keeping all their essentials in one place. This bag is especially useful for traveling in Europe, where organization and accessibility are key.
- Wallet and Keys: Secure pockets for easy access.
- Phone and Electronics: Dedicated compartments for phones, chargers, and other gadgets.
- Personal Items: Space for items like a water bottle, snacks, and travel documents.
Navigating Airports with Ease
Traveling through airports can be hectic, but our packing techniques and organizational strategies help us maintain control and move seamlessly through security, check-in, and boarding.
Elevator Over Escalators
Important: One of our key strategies is to avoid escalators when both of our hands are carrying luggage. Instead, we opt for elevators in these cases, which are located near every escalator. Typically once you check in your larger luggage, you are free to use the escalators. This method enhances our stability and reduces the risk of falls or mishaps, especially when navigating busy terminals.
One-Hand Free
By checking our larger bags (24″ or 28″) at key points, we ensure that one hand remains free. This approach not only provides added safety but also makes it easier to manage our personal items and navigate crowded spaces without fumbling for essentials.
When traveling through TSA and Customs, the process can become particularly hectic, and the last thing you want is to be scrambling for your boarding passes and luggage tags. To prevent losing important documents, we always take a moment to properly place our passports, boarding tickets, and luggage tags in their designated compartments before moving on to the next step.
This simple practice not only reduces stress but also ensures that everything stays organized during these critical and often stressful times. By maintaining one hand free, we can handle any unexpected situations more effectively and move through airport security with greater ease and confidence.
Quick Access to Essentials
Our well-organized purses and backpacks mean that we can quickly access important items without digging through multiple compartments. This efficiency is crucial during security checks and boarding, where time and ease are of the essence.
You should NEVER overstuff your purse! Keeping your purse streamlined ensures that each essential has its designated spot, making it easy to find what you need instantly. Additionally, we rely on our backpacks to carry extra items while traveling through airports, such as snacks, chargers, and travel documents.
This dual-bag system keeps us organized and allows us to navigate crowded spaces and busy airport procedures without fumbling for essentials. By maintaining a tidy purse and utilizing the backpack for additional items, we stay prepared and stress-free throughout our journey.
Teaching Our Travelers: Sharing Our Expertise
At Two Travel Gurus, our mission extends beyond us taking our groups all over the world. We are dedicated to teaching our travelers the techniques that have made our journeys successful. Whether through articles, workshops, or personalized consultations, we ensure our travelers are well-prepared and confident in their packing strategies.
Customized Packing Lists
We provide customized packing lists tailored to different types of trips, ensuring our travelers pack only what they need and avoid overpacking. Our lists are designed to cover all essentials while allowing for flexibility based on individual preferences and destinations.
Expert Advice and Tips
From choosing the right luggage to organizing your bags efficiently, our expert advice covers every aspect of packing. We share tips on maximizing space, staying organized, and adapting to different travel scenarios, empowering our travelers to embark on their adventures with ease.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Travel trends and needs evolve, and so do our strategies. We continuously refine our packing techniques based on feedback and new experiences, ensuring our travelers always have access to the latest and most effective packing methods.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you choose the right luggage set?
We prioritize durability, lightweight design, and organizational features. Purchasing from Amazon allows us to find high-quality sets that fit within our budget, ensuring we get the best value without compromising on quality.
Why do you never use the backpack for site seeing?
Our backpack serves as a personal item during airport transitions, keeping essential items within easy reach. This allows us to manage our larger luggage while having everything we need on hand. However, backpacks can be unsafe in crowded areas, as wearing them on your back makes you more vulnerable to theft. We highly recommend not using backpacks on our daily tours.
How do you maximize space in your luggage?
We use Bagail Compression Packing Cubes to compress and organize our clothes, roll items instead of folding them, and utilize every available space by filling shoes with socks or small items. This method ensures we maximize space without overpacking.
What do you include in your travel purses?
Our purses are organized with zippers and compartments for passports, keys, receipts, battery chargers, lipstick, and other essentials. This organization allows us to quickly access important items without rummaging through the entire purse.
How do you navigate airports efficiently?
We use elevators instead of escalators to keep both hands free, check our larger bags to ensure one hand remains available, and maintain organized purses and backpacks for quick access to essentials. This approach helps us move through airports smoothly and without stress.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of packing is a game-changer for any traveler. With the right luggage, effective packing techniques, and an organized system, you can transform your travel experience from chaotic to seamless. Nancy and I have honed these strategies through countless trips, and we are excited to share our expertise with you. By following our recommendations and adopting our unique packing methods, you’ll be well-prepared for any adventure, whether it’s a 10-day European escapade, a relaxing cruise, or a spontaneous weekend getaway.
In Closing
At Two Travel Gurus, we’re committed to making your travel experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. By following these packing tips and tricks, you’ll be well-prepared for your next adventure, whether it’s a European getaway, a relaxing cruise, or a quick weekend escape.
We invite you to explore more travel tips and expert advice to help you on your journey:
- Check out our Full Packing List that you can make your own
- Find out more about the Ultimate Packing Suggestions for a 10 day European Trip.
- Learn about your Top Essential Must Haves when packing for your next trip
Ready to embark on your next adventure? Visit our home page to start planning your dream trip with Two Travel Gurus today. We’re here to help make every journey a memorable one!
